Abraham Lincoln famously said that “no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall perish from this Earth.” But did you know that “the people” is a famous example of an epistrophe? So, what is an epistrophe? We’re going to break down epistrophes by looking at epistrophe examples in writing. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and utilize epistrophes.Continue reading What is an Epistrophe — Definition, Examples for Writers
Did you know that some language and anthropology scholars believe that poetry predates literacy? Poetry is one of the world’s oldest and most venerated art forms. As storytellers, there’s simply a ton of value in learning more about what makes poetry so special, as well as what makes it so historically important. We’re going to break down the history of poetry by looking at some examples from William Shakespeare and Langston Hughes. By the end, you’ll know how poetry started, what different types of poems there are, and how you can become a master of the craft -- but first,…
Bards rejoice, it’s time to get lyrical -- everybody else, we’re here to review the mystery of iambic pentameter. At one point or another, we’ve all asked the question: what is iambic pentameter? If you’ve found the answer to be elusive, that’s because iambic pentameter is a relic of rhythm’s past… or is it?We’re going to break down iambic pentameter, with examples from Shakespeare, The Meyerowitz Stories, and some of hip-hop’s most iconic artists, so that you can apply different writing “foots” to your cinema dialogue in new, and exciting ways. But before we jump into some iambic pentameter examples,…
What is black comedy? Have you ever watched a movie or TV show and wondered how the characters could joke about violence, disease, or war? That’s what we refer to as black comedy.It goes by many names. Dark humor. Gallows humor. Dark comedy. It all means the same thing. And in this blog, you’ll learn the history of black humor and see some examples, so you can see if you want to incorporate these kinds of jokes into your next project. Let’s dive in.Continue reading What is Black Comedy — Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
When looking at some of cinema and literature’s most iconic characters, it's easy to find ones that are non-human. Animals, androids, and other non-human characters, however, have somehow won our hearts over in countless tales. This is largely due to the fact that these non-human characters are given human traits, otherwise known as anthropomorphism. What is anthropomorphism used for? Let’s define anthropomorphism and its function in the world of storytelling. Continue reading What is Anthropomorphism — Definition, Examples & Uses
You probably have heard of the terms ethos, pathos, and logos before. You may even understand what each is. However, you may not know them as rhetorical appeals. What are rhetorical appeals and how is each one a cornerstone of rhetoric? In this article, we’ll take a look at the components of the rhetorical appeals, how they are effective, and which one Aristotle thought was the most important in creating persuasive arguments. Continue reading What are Rhetorical Appeals — The Art of Persuasion Explained
Metaphors in and of themselves are a powerful tool to communicating ideas and concepts efficiently to a reader. However, when multiple metaphors are used in conjunction with each other they can become confusing. This is a common reason why many advise writers to avoid mixed metaphors. However, in this article we’re going to dive into some of the uses of the mixed metaphors that writers overlook. What is a mixed metaphor? This is specifically relevant in the world of storytelling and screenwriting. Continue reading What is a Mixed Metaphor: Definition & Examples
Unique descriptions, whether internal or external, are key to creating memorable and meaningful characters. And regardless of medium, character traits are critical considerations for any literary work. However, while they are typically noted in a character introduction, your chosen character traits should be noticeable throughout your characters’ presence on the page, and therefore, should be thoughtfully chosen and applied. Below, we’ll unpack character trait definitions and examples to help you gain a deeper understanding and how to implement them properly. Continue reading What are Character Traits — Examples & How to Write Them
What is a haiku? What distinguishes a haiku from other forms of poetry? We will provide a definition for haiku, explore the history of the form in Japan and around the world, and take a look at some of the most well-known haiku examples. Let’s get started with the definition of a haiku poem.Continue reading What is a Haiku — Definition, Examples and Structure Explained
What is a palindrome? Actually, there are a few different types and we will dig into all of them. In this post, we’ll define palindrome, cover the rules that govern the different styles, and take a look at examples of each type. We will even take a look at a few examples of palindromes in pop culture. Let's get into it!Continue reading What is a Palindrome — Definition, Examples & How They Work
